Author Topic: Inductive Loop Sensors  (Read 907 times)

00049 (AKA SopFu)

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Inductive Loop Sensors
« on: April 29, 2013, 06:23:19 PM »
I remember posting a question a while back wondering if the Empulse would trigger inductive loop sensors used at stop lights and the IL Tollway due to the amount of conductive metal used int he motor. After two and a half solid months of going through two toll booths every day I have been charged a total of 0 times. That's a better record than I get with my all-aluminum SV. It's possible a few months from now I'll get a slew of picture tolls, but usually they catch up after a month. So the moral of the story is that the motor won't trigger the sensors. The motor must be shielded to protect the nearby electronics, and that blocks the sensors from picking up the bike.

On one had that sucks for people that need the bike to trigger stoplights. On the other, it lets cheapskates like me not pay tolls. ;D
'03 SV650
'13 Empulse #49
Wheaton, IL

protomech

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Re: Inductive Loop Sensors
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2013, 06:58:58 PM »
A growing number of traffic lights here use photo-detectors instead of in-ground inductive loops to detect vehicles. They work very well IMO.
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Richard230

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Re: Inductive Loop Sensors
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2013, 07:43:21 PM »
If you run into a stubborn inductive loop sensor at a stop light you might try extending your side stand on top of a loop cut, if you can see one.  Otherwise just put the stand down and see what happens.  I have found that usually works with most signals that are adjusted not too far off of their specifications.

I agree the photo detectors work very well, even for bicycle riders.   :)
current bikes: 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2007 BMW R1200R, 2005 Triumph T-100 Bonneville, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

Shinysideup

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Re: Inductive Loop Sensors
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2013, 12:25:55 PM »
Also, you can report the offending light to the local government. I did and they came out and adjusted the sensors which now pick me up almost every time.

Richard230

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Re: Inductive Loop Sensors
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2013, 04:36:29 PM »
Also, you can report the offending light to the local government. I did and they came out and adjusted the sensors which now pick me up almost every time.

I never got service that good from South City and I worked with the traffic signal technicians.   ???

Maybe I complained too much. Half the signals in town never seemed to pick up my bikes and they rarely got fixed.   :(

At the time the signal supervisor was the AFSCME Union president. Maybe I didn't attend enough of their meetings.  ::)
current bikes: 2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2011 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Classic, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2007 BMW R1200R, 2005 Triumph T-100 Bonneville, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.